The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-04-14
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Replies to Questions on Variety Of interesting
Suhieets

hepueS 10 RuesttOnS On u NAIltbI Vi AubcreSilns
Subjects.
ITO correspondents-write questions on a sep
arate sheet of paper, give full name and address,
and mark it Correspondents Column No atten-
ton will be paid 10 communications that not
accompanied with full name andaddress of writer.
Our readers requested to inclose a stamp for
reply to their inquiries Postal cards will be
replied to by mail only. Replies by mail will ordi-
narily be made within a week, and If in this col
umn within three weeks.l
A. Dr. O., FTeeEand MOL + am pensioned for
disease of eyes, loss of sight in eye toaI deaf
ness of left ear and severe of right; drawing
Sl2 per month now. Am entitled to increase?
2. lost my sight and hearing by erysipelas in head
and face and il has caused eatarrh of head also loss
of memory. Must make application for new dis
ability, or will that go in with the increase? 3
What became of the bill introduced in Congress for
the relief of certain claimants who had claims
pending in the Pension Office to allow them
of pension? 4nsioer. 1. We unable to say
whether you or are not entitled to increase,
the question depends upon the medical examina-
ton, and we not in possession Of sufficient in
formation to enable us to give you an opinion.
You should apply to the Commissioner Of PEN
sions by executing regular application for in
crease. 2 You will have to file an application for
disability unless 10 has been before alleged in
regular form. 8. IL did noSbeeome law.
j. r. r.. Barre vi. Are appeal claims settled
rapidly than formerly in the Office of the Sec
rotary of the Interiorf 2. How far behind is that
office with pension cases? g. Is there more honor
to Special Examiners than to other persons in the
Pension Office? AnSt0er. !. Yes. 2. About nine
months. 3. We do not understand your question.
j. l., PerrysUlue, O.-An attorney has fee agree
ments fled for S25 for the prosecution of pension
claim. Three disabilities are alleged, two being
proved up and pension granted. Can said attorney
continue the prosecution Of claim for the remain
ing disability, submitting testimony, ETC., and
charge additional fee'therefor? AnslUer. No;
SIS is all he receive for the entire claim. IF the
claim is allowed for two disabilities and he receives
Sd he Is compelled TO complete the claim for the
remaining disability without any charge to the
claimant, because he agreed to prosecute the entire
claim for S25 and that is the full fee for his services
in the claim IL stood when the fee contracts were
filed. The Pension Office would hold him to his
agreement. But II after the fee contracts
filed n new disability was alleged, that would make
a new claim for which the attorney would be en-
titled TO another fee.
j. H. Nee. BeHeUiLle Pal Who was Surgeon
and Assistant Surgeon of the 56th Pa. in 1865? 2.
Who was Colonel of the 10Th Regulars in 1868? 8.
Are headstones furnished by the Government for
the graves of soldiers of the of 1872? A1slger
]. Joseph T. Shoemaker was Surgeon and Philip
III. Pennsyl was Assistant Surgeon at that time. 2.
Edward X. ;. Candy, who was killed by the Mo-
graves of soldiers who died in service have since
died from the effects of wounds or disease con-
traeted in the I0ar Of The rebellion.
Il. +. f., DirOn, o. received q letter from the
Commissioner of Pensions stating that my claim
was awaiting the return of Surgeons certificate of
examination. How long after said examination
before pension is allowed? Ansloer. That is a ques-
| ton we cannot answer, because we do not know
that 1t IL the last step necessary in the claim. An
| examination by Surgeon may be indication
whatever of the state of the claim. You should
/ again write to the Commissioner and ask him how
/ the claim stands.
| w. j. r., LsmeScdi, Cdi.-Ts n man who vOlun-
teered after the late and served six months
/ titled to Join the GAR? ARSIUer. No.
g. w. b., Lilly, o--The fact that a soldier re-
/ turned from desertion under Presidential procla-
| nation would not debar him from receiving PEN
i sion.
| j. r.. Manito,coc Wjs.-I am drawing n pension
of s5 per month forloss Ofarm; am Ientitled to an
artificial arm, Communication in 1890, having
drawn Communication in 1885? Ansi0er. Yes.
/ ~ H., Ne,cton, Falls. O.-To whom shall apply
/ for tombstones for unmarked soldiers graves?
Answer. To the Quartermaster- U. ). A.,
/ Washington, ID. O.
/ a r. d., Ldbarge Mich-Some time since the
/ Accounting Officer Of the Treasury admitted my
| claim for back bounty, there being found a bal
ance of 500 due me. l. Has Congress appropri-
ated money for the payment OF such claims? 2.
! When shall be likely to receive same? g. Will it
be sent to me without any furthur trouble my
| parts AnsUsr l. No. 2. Probably about the sum
O. K, Psnt Water, Mieh-Soldier having died
of disease contracted in service, is his widow en-
titled to pension for the time she remained such
| until her remarriage? AHs10er. If the widow has
| remarked and has not heretofore filed her claim,
| she cannot obtain pension for that period.
| 8. W. H., South Bend Ind. A widow marries
an ex-soldier; is she entitled to pension after his
death? 2. soldier applies for pension. which is
| allowed after his death. To whom does this money
belong; to those who have cared for and supported
the widow, or to the widow and her heirs, she hav-
| ing married the soldier after the war? Ans1cer.
l. III the second husband died from disability con-
| tracted in the army, she is entitled to pension.
| 2 The widow Is the only person entitled to re-
celVe the accrued pension. The date OF her mar
riage to him has nothing to do with the case.
w. b., KinbGH, Ddk.-I To whom should APP
ply for the names and addresses of Army Surgeons
! who were on duty in certain hospitals during the
| war? 2. BY giving name of hospital and month
of treatment, would that enable to get their adj
dresses? 3. IL claim for pension is fled based on
three or more disabilities and pension is allowed
| on two of them, there being reference made 10
| the remaining disabilities, would additional evil
| dence be accepted in proof Of same? AnSlUsr.
1. Tothe Surgeon General, u 5. A.. this city. q We
presume So il the Surgeons are living 8. Yes.
w. H. NJ, Carrie, MIMI received my commits
sion on the 8th of March, 1863 with instructions TO
the Mastering Officer that was to take rank from
10th of February, as had been doing duty as ofli-
Ger prior to that date On the 2sth of February,
two days after the time / should have been mus
tered was wounded. I received pension for said
wound as a Sergeant. If my muster is corrected
under the late law, will the Department reopen my
claim and allow pension from date of original APP
plication a commissioned officer? AnSWsr. Yes.
O. T. A. Corltnnd Jfch.-June IT, 1873 Congress
passed an act giving S72 TO all soldiers and sailors
who had lost either both hands or both feet the
sight of both eyes in the line of duty in the service
June 10, 1850. Congress passed an act providing
that all who were then receiving $50 per month,
which was the rate given for total helpessness, or
for such total and permanent disability as required
the regular aid and attendance of another person,
should receive 81; but as that act failed to make
any provision for those whose claims were allowed
after that date, no person, unless totally blind or
who had lost both hands or both feet could receive
ST., unless he was drawing so June I6 1880.
Several SttbScriberS-We give you herewith an
opinion from the General Land Office regarding
the status OF the strip OF pubic land known as
mo Mans Land" which answers your several
inquiries.
ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER STocKsLAGER 10 r. T.
Dickson, ashland, Kansas, March Is. 1857.
am 10 receipt, by reiereneesfrom the Depart
ment of State, of your letter of Oct 90 1886 rela
tive to the tract of land south of Kansas and Col
orado and north of the Pan Handle of Texas to
which you refer as No Mans Land" You state
that the citizens of said tract have requested YOU &c
write concerning their condition; that the Secretary
of the Interior authorized them To settle on this
land and they have done so, but that there are a
number of outlaws there who continually kill
ing and terrifying the citizens, some of whom have
been arrested, and brought before the United
States Commissioner at Ashland, Kan, for trial
but that the Commissioner and lawyers decided
that the tract of land referred TO was not in any
oners loose, and you ask if there is redress for
crimes committed there.
In reply you are informed that the said tract
of land, which Is designated on the maps a.
Public Land has never been declared by the
Department to be opened to settlement aud entry
although know of no legal objection to the oceu
pancy and settlement thereof in tracts exceeding
100 acres by citizens of the United States who have
arrived at the age OF Il years. but entries can
allowed under existing laws, and / cannot state
positively that such settlers will thereby secure Ia
themselves any rights that will ever be recognized
by Congress, and in the anomalous condition OF
affairs existing at the present time am not pre-
pared To advise you to what authority settlers on
these lands may look for protection of life and
property, for redress for crimes committee
Several bills have been offered in Congress Io0ku
to the of this evil, by extending the United
States laws said strip and also for the disposal
of the land embraced therein To actual settlers but
none of them have been enacted into laws
y. M, Leopold LRd-A soldier lost an eve in
service He LEFT his regiment for five months in